OU_214051 UNIVERSA - Osmania University

A CRIME IN HOLLAND 131
word " farm " had another meaning here than the one he was
accustomed to. For him the word had always implied a thatched
roof, a manure heap, the clucking of hens, and cackle of geese.
The one he now came to was a fine new building surrounded
by a large garden blooming with flowers. Everything trim, quiet,
and peaceful. On the canal just opposite the house, a graceful
rowing-boat built of mahogany. By the gate, a lady's bicycle
nickel-plated all over.
He looked in vain for a bell, called, but got no answer. A dog
began barking.
To the left of the house was a long building with regular
windows, which, however, had no curtains. You would have taken
it for a shed had it not been so spick and span, and so obviously
painted with an eye to colour effect.
A noise of mooing came from within, and Maigret, walking round
the flower-beds, found himself looking through a wide-open door.
The building was in fact a cowshed, though clean as any house.
Red tiles everywhere, which gave a warm glow and even a feeling
of sumptuousness. Gutters everywhere to provide drainage. An
ingenious mechanism controlled the fodder in the mangers. A pulley
at the back of each stall, whose use Maigret only found out later.
They were to hold up the cows' tails during milking and prevent
dirt being flicked into the milk.
The light inside was dim. All the cows were out except for one
lying on its side in the first stall.
A young girl came up to the visitor and began speaking to him
in Dutch.
" Mademoiselle Liewens? . . ."
" Yes. . . . Are you French? "
While she spoke she looked towards the cow. There was something
a little ironical about her smile which Maigret did not understand
at once.
Another thing which clashed with his preconceived ideas was
that Beetje Liewens wore black rubber boots, which gave her the
air of a horsewoman.
She was wearing a green silk dress, though it was almost entirely
concealed by a white overall like that of a hospital nurse.
A ruddy face, perhaps too ruddy. A healthy sunny smile, but
which lacked subtlety. Big china-blue eyes and red hair.
At first she seemed to have some difficulty in finding her words
in French, but she soon got into her stride.